The United States has withdrawn its Under-17 men’s national team from the 2026 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar due to security concerns tied to the ongoing conflict involving Iran.
Following consultations with its internal security team and the U.S. State Department, the U.S. Soccer Federation notified FIFA, players, and staff of the decision on Wednesday. In a letter to the team, the federation cited player safety and a U.S. State Department Level 3 travel advisory urging Americans to reconsider travel to Qatar because of the risk of armed conflict.
The withdrawal comes shortly after the U.S. relocated its pre-tournament training camp to Atlanta and just hours after FIFA confirmed the official squad lists for the 48-team tournament, which runs from November 19 to December 13. The U.S. was set to open Group J play against Montenegro on November 21.